Multi-radio coexistence and collaboration on an SDR platform

In order to support the simultaneous use of both legacy and new radios in a multi-radio handset, a Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform needs to offer coexistence mechanisms and services for radios. This paper proposes an SDR control framework to provide the coexistence services and common interfaces for them. The multi-radio control in proposed platform is divided into two parts, the light-weight dynamic scheduling with tight real-time constraints to solve the temporal interoperability issues between radios, and the semi-dynamic admission control to perform the resource allocation when a radio changes its behavioral pattern. The control framework was implemented on a SDR technology demonstrator, to show how multiple simultaneously active radios are controlled, and how the coexistence mechanism can be used to provide tangible benefits to the SDR modem user, like the ability to utilize fine-grained spectral holes.     

Untersuchungen zur Wiederverwendung von Spundwänden

Insbesondere in den letzten Jahren wird das Thema Nachhaltigkeit und ressourcenschonender Umgang mit der Umwelt immer stärker in Politik und Gesellschaft diskutiert. Auch in der Geotechnik ist viel Potential vorhanden, nachhaltig mit den Rohstoffen umzugehen. In diesem Beitrag wird hierzu auf die Möglichkeiten der Wiederverwendung von Stahlspundwänden eingegangen. Dabei wird ein wesentliches Augenmerk auf die Möglichkeiten des Recyclings des Spundwandstahls gelegt. Weiterhin erfolgt eine ausführliche Diskussion bezüglich des Ziehens von Spundwänden und den hierbei auftretenden Problemen. So ist häufig ein Anstieg des Herausziehwiderstands über die Zeit feststellbar. Anhand verschiedener Finite‐Elemente‐Untersuchungen wird dieser Zuwachs des Herausziehwiderstands numerisch untersucht, und es können verschiedene Faktoren herausgearbeitet werden, die dem zugrunde liegen. Investigations regarding the re‐use of sheet‐piles. Especially in recent years the topic sustainability and careful handling of environment are discussed more and more in politics and society. In geotechnical engineering there is great potential to deal more sustainable with the used resources. In this contribution, the possibilities of re‐using steel sheet‐piles are discussed. A main scope is set on the possibilities of recycling of the steel. Furthermore, the pull‐out process of sheet‐piles is discussed and problems during the pull‐out process are described. In‐situ often an increase of pull‐out forces over time can be noticed. Several numerical investigations using finite element method are presented to investigate the possible factors which influence the increase in pull‐out forces.     

Kinetic behaviour of HC-SCR over Ag/alumina catalyst using a model paraffinic second generation biodiesel compound

The effect of longer paraffins on the mechanism of the HC-SCR reaction over a 1.91 wt.% Ag/alumina catalyst was investigated by kinetic studies. Hexadecane (C₁₆H₃₄) was chosen as a model compound as it is also a representative molecule for a second generation biodiesel consisting of only long-chain paraffins. The kinetic behaviour of the catalytic reduction of NO_x was examined at steady-state conditions in the temperature range 250–550 °C (50 °C ramping) and by using the following gas concentrations: P_NO = 100, 250, 500, 750 or 1000 ppm, P_hexadecane = 31, 94, 188, 281 or 375 ppm and P_O2=1.5, 3, 4.5, 6 or 9 vol.%. Results showed that in the temperature range 250–425 °C high hexadecane concentration had an inhibiting effect on the NO reduction. At temperatures above 350 °C the apparent reaction orders for hexadecane with respect to hexadecane increased to close or above 1. Reaction orders towards NO were close to 0.55 indicating that NO adsorption on the catalyst surface is stronger than hexadecane adsorption. Based on the experimental data it is proposed that small clusters alone cannot be the active sites for HC-SCR over Ag/Al₂O₃ but the important requirement for high activity over the catalyst is the local concentrations of hydrocarbon and NO on the interface of silver and the support.     

Electron Trapping in Higher Adduct Fullerene‐Based Solar Cells

Here, the performance of bulk‐heterojunction solar cells based on a series of bisadduct analogues of commonly used derivatives of C₆₀ and C₇₀, such PCBMs and their thienyl versions, is investigated. Due to their higher lowest unoccupied molecular orbital an increase in open‐circuit voltage and thus performance is expected. It is shown that the occurrence of a multitude of different isomers results in a decrease in the electron transport for some of the materials. Surprisingly, the solar‐cell characteristics are very similar for all materials. This apparent discrepancy is explained by a significant amount of shallow trapping occurring in the fullerene phase that does not hamper the solar cell performance due the filling of these shallow traps during illumination. Furthermore, the trisadduct analogue of [60]PCBM has been investigated, which, despite an even further increase in open‐circuit voltage, results in a significantly reduced device performance due to a strong deterioration of the electron mobility in the fullerene phase.     

Large-Scale Requirements Analysis Revisited: The need for Understanding the Political Ecology of Requirements Engineering

This paper addresses the political nature of requirements for large systems, and argues that requirements engineering theory and practice must become more engaged with these issues. It argues that large-scale system requirements is constructed through a political decision process, whereby requirements emerge as a set of mappings between consecutive solution spaces justified by a problem space of concern to a set of principals. These solution spaces are complex socio-technical ensembles that often exhibit non-linear behaviour in expansion due to domain complexity and political ambiguity. Stabilisation of solutions into agreed-on specifications occurs only through the exercise of organisational power. Effective requirements engineering in such cases is most effectively seen as a form of heterogeneous engineering in which technical, social, economic and institutional factors are brought together in a current solution space that provides the baseline for construction of proposed new solution spaces.     

Closing the gap: towards a process model of post-merger knowledge sharing

Abstract.  We develop a process model of post-merger knowledge sharing based on distributed cognition, a systems perspective and path dependence. The framework conceptualizes knowledge sharing by layers of management choice and employee appropriation of knowledge resources seen as knowledge as content and knowledge as connection. We use the framework to study a merger of two polymer companies. The study reveals that mergers represent a discontinuity in knowledge sharing. Yet, chosen strategies often mirror the learned knowledge-sharing practices of one of the merged companies and match poorly with the post-merger knowledge-sharing needs. Five factors emerged contribute to this knowledge gap: (a) the nature of the merger; (b) a lack of shared context; (c) the incompatibility of existing knowledge systems; (d) the tacit dimension of knowledge; and (e) time pressures of the merger. Our study shows that, employees enacted knowledge new sharing practices that differed significantly from the official strategy to close to the post-merger knowledge gap.     

Potentiometric sensing of chemical warfare agents: surface imprinted polymer integrated with an indium tin oxide electrode

Rapid and specific recognition of methylphosphonic acid (MPA), the degradation product of nerve agents sarin, soman, VX, etc., was achieved with potentiometric measurements using a chemical sensor fabricated by a surface imprinting technique coupled with a nanoscale transducer, indium tin oxide (ITO). An octadecylsiloxane thin layer was covalently bound to the ITO-coated glass surface in the presence of MPA. After extraction of MPA, potentiometric measurements showed selective detection of MPA. The selectivity of the sensor has been tested on other alkylphosphonic acids, such as ethylphosphonic acid and propylphosphonic acid, as well as tert-butylphosphonic acid. The viability of the sensor in the presence of other chemical analogues, such as organophosphorus pesticides and herbicides, was investigated.     

Polarization conversion in conical diffraction by metallic and dielectric subwavelength gratings

Subwavelength metallic and dielectric diffraction gratings which rotate the linear polarization of incident light by 90 degrees are examined. Using rigorous diffraction theory in total-internal-reflection configuration, it is shown that full conversion from incident transverse electric field to transverse magnetic zero-order field can be achieved with both dielectric and metallic elements, but dielectric gratings provide higher efficiency and are thus preferable. The fabrication aspects and constraints are discussed in detail and the behavior of the gratings over broad wavelength bands is presented.     

Learning failure in information systems development

Abstract. Abstract. Information systems development is a high-risk undertaking, and failures remain common despite advances in development tools and technologies. In this paper, we argue that one reason for this is the collapse of organizational intelligence required to deal with the complexities of systems development. Organizations fail to learn from their experience in systems development because of limits of organizational intelligence, disincentives for learning, organizational designs and educational barriers. Not only have many organizations failed to learn, but they have also learned to fail. Over time they accept and expect poor performance while creating organizational myths that perpetuate short-term optimization. This paper illustrates learning failure in systems development and recommends tactics for overcoming it.